AARTEE

God's Aartee is the Kirtan of His Praises,
which brings lasting Bliss (sggs 393).
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In the Vedic Dharma, as a religious ritual, Aartee (also spelt Arati - waving of the lighted lamps at the end of worship) is performed in front of deities
several times a day; specifically at the conclusion of a religious ceremony (conclusion
of worship etc.). It is accompanied by the singing of a special compositions called
"Aartee". Sometime Aartee is also performed in front
of a so called holy man. Generally, the ingredients of the Aartee include
lamps (Deepak or Devaas), wicks, bowl (Thaal or plate), incense,
flowers, fan (Chavar), Ghee (clarified butter), camphor, jingle
bells, sandalwood paste, saffron, and so on.

Sometime, Aartee of this
sort being performed in front of the SGGS (Sri Guru Granth Sahib) can also be
witnessed at the conclusion of the so called "Akhand Paath" (uninterrupted
page to page reading of the SGGS). Also, as indicated at the official web site
of the Shiromani Gurdawaaraa Parbandhak Committee (s.g.p.c.), one of the the Shabad-Chowkies
(music or Kirtan sessions) performed at the Harmandir Sahib is called Aaratee.

What was Baabaa Nanak's ਆਰਤੀ - Aartee? He did not
perform Aartee in front of any religious text, deity or human body. His
Aartee is by the Infinite, of the Infinite and for the Infinite. The lamps
of his Aartee are the Sun and the Moon, placed on the Thaal (bowl
or plate) of the sky. The Stars in the constellations are the pearls placed on
this Thaal. The fragrance of the sandalwood is the incense, the wind is
the fan, and all the vegetation are flowers in offering. Transcendental vibratory
sound current of the Shabad is the sounding of the bells. Then, Baabaa
Nanak exclaims, "What a beautiful Aartee this is! O Destroyer of
fear, this is Your Aartee, Your worship service."

Why Baabaa Nanak's
Aartee was unique and different from the traditional Aartee? Understanding
the meaning of the word "Aartee" and the symbolism of the paraphernalia
used in the act, may help us understand this.

The Sanskrit word Aartee
literally means "cessation" or "coming to an end". Thus, Aartee
symbolizes surrender (Sharnaagati) - the final end of ego (Haume)
or the the final relinquishment of ego to God within. Just as the camphor used in the
ritual dissolves into nothingness without leaving any residue (camphor burns without
leaving any residue), so too should the individual merge in the Divine Hukam
(Will), so too should we make an offering of the only thing that is truly ours
to give - the ego (Haume). Only when we give up our erroneous concepts
of "I-ness" and "mine, mine" will our worship truly be complete
and will we receive the ultimate Prasaad (Grace or Kirpaa) -
the awakening of Divine Love in our heart and realization of the Absolute, Pure
Consciousness that is everyone's True Nature ("Joti-Svaroopa").
Accordingly, The SGGS calls God's Name as His Aartee, which brings lasting
Bliss (Anand).

Thus, the main purpose of the Aartee
is self-purification. It reminds us of the greatness of the Lord. The flame of
the lamp that people wave cylindrically is symbolic of the revolving of Sun, Moon,
Stars, etc. The Sun and the Moon are likened to the lamp: the Sun as the lamp
of Intuitive Knowledge, and the Moon as the lamp of Intuitive Peace. Their all-reaching
light, free nature, and even-vision reminds us of the One Transcendental Reality
dwelling in everyone and everyplace evenly and ceaselessly. The light of the flame
represents the spiritual wisdom that dispels the darkness of ignorance, and steadfastness
or one-pointedness of the mind - analogous to a flame that is steady or unwavering.
It also reminds us that we should lit the oil lamps of selflessness and divine
love in our hearts so that they can become the light of the world. Camphor represents
our ego. Traditional Aartee contains five wicks on the lamp representing
our five senses. In other words, along with our ego, the Aartee consists
of offering of our five senses to God (their demands, desires, coverings or colors).
It's praying to God that all our negativities and defilements get burnt out just
as the camphor, which burns without leaving any trace like the bird that flies
in the sky without leaving any trace or the fish that swims in the water without
leaving any mark. During Aartee, people also close their eyes. This signifies
looking within. As God is said to be within, He can only be realized within. The
rising up of the Dhoop or incense stick signifies our loving devotion rising
up towards God. The sound of the bells represents the wish that the Transcendental
vibratory sound of the primordial Word may resonate within and invoke good tendencies,
replacing all Bikaars (mind's negative propensities).

Now, just pause for a moment
and think cool-headedly as to how useless it would be to keep performing or singing
ritualistic Aartee if ultimately it does not lead one to self-purification
through self-observation! If self-purification has taken place, then the Aartee
becomes that of Baabaa Nanak, which transcends the ritualistic Aartee.
The purpose of reading or hearing the Gurbani (SGGS) is to become Nanak-like (or
Godlike). This is the state in which the "rare" Gurmukh (enlightened
being) ever abides. Rest of us just keep groping in Maya (the principle of relativity
and duality).